Tag: prisons

Bishop of Derby asks about tackling homelessness

The Bishop of Derby asked a question on support for those leaving prison and at risk of becoming homeless on 30th April 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, this feels very close to home. The BBC recently reported that the number of people who spent at least one night sleeping rough in Derby in 2024 was 63% higher than in 2023. In the Government’s annual rough sleeping snapshot, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that 10% of everyone sleeping rough across the UK had left institutions such as prison. I welcome the announcement that councils across England will receive £1 billion of funding to reduce and prevent homelessness. As the Bishop with particular responsibility for youth offenders, I ask the Minister how her department intends to work with councils to ensure that sufficient investment is appropriately and effectively allocated specifically to support young adults who are leaving prison.

Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about tackling homelessness”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about contact systems in young offenders institutions

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 30th April 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the relative impact of providing (1) a PIN telephone system, and (2) in-cell telephones, on the number of calls prisoners and young offenders make to (a) family members, (b) support workers, and (c) others in the community.

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about contact systems in young offenders institutions”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about licence conditions for those under Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences

The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on communication around termination of licence conditions during a discussion on those under Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences on 24th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, taking into account what has been said already, I welcome the enactment of the provisions in the Victims and Prisoners Act, passed by the last Government, allowing termination of licence conditions for IPP prisoners. However, there are huge legal complexities involved, so I wonder what steps the Government are taking to ensure that those eligible to terminate their licence conditions actually understand their rights and are able to exercise them.

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about licence conditions for those under Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences”

Bishop of Lichfield asks about probation service and suicide in prisons

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answers on 13th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what the average caseload of probation officers in England and Wales was in each year of the last decade.

Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about probation service and suicide in prisons”

Bishop of Lichfield asks about impact of early release scheme on the Probation Service

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 11th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the early release scheme on the Probation Service; and what additional support and funding they are providing to the Probation Service in connection with that scheme.

Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about impact of early release scheme on the Probation Service”

Bishop of Lichfield asks about support for faith groups working with prison leavers

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 3rd March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to work with faith groups to support people being released from prison.

Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about support for faith groups working with prison leavers”

Bishop of Lichfield asks about reducing homelessness among prison-leavers

On 21st January 2025, the Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on reducing rates of homelessness among prison-leavers:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, according to data from the Ministry of Justice, the proportion of all prison leavers who were released homeless in 2023-24 was 13%. Considering that people are 50% more likely to re-offend if they are homeless, what steps are the Government taking to reduce rates of homelessness among prison leavers?

Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about reducing homelessness among prison-leavers”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about women in prison

The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the health needs of women in prison on 14th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, women in prison have very specific health needs. Will the new women’s justice board look at ensuring that health and social care services across the women’s estate are consistently gender-specific and sensitive to women’s protected characteristics?

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about women in prison”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about status of prisoners in the UK and overseas

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 16th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to publish the number of UK citizens in prison abroad as a matter of routine

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about status of prisoners in the UK and overseas”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about issue of radon gas levels at Dartmoor Prison

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 9th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked his Majesty’s Government:

  • what estimate they have made of the cost of tackling radon gas levels at HMP Dartmoor.
  • when HMP Dartmoor will return to its full operational capacity following the detection of radon gas.
  • what assessment they have made of the number of prisoners affected by (1) elevated radon gas readings at HMP Dartmoor, and (2) the subsequent closure of that prison in July.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about issue of radon gas levels at Dartmoor Prison”